This is a series of nine illustrations I did during my last semester at UVU (September-December 2017). The series explores the mythology and beliefs of my Norse ancestors, and also gave me the opportunity to explore the artistic styles of other illustrators I admire. Each piece was inspired by the style of a different artist or illustrator.
The Creation of Midgard
Inspired by the style of Tyler Carter
"The Creation of Midgard"
Inspired by the style of Tyler Carter.
In the beginning, there was nothing, but the great void--called Ginnungagap--, the fiery realm of Muspelheim, and the icy realm of Niflheim. From the heat and frost, the first being, a cruel giant named Ymir, was formed. Three of Ymir's sons--Odin, Vili, and Ve--slew Ymir, and from his body, they formed Midgard, the realm of mankind. From his bones, they made the mountains, from his teeth the cliffs, from his brains the clouds, his hair became the trees. From his skull they created the vaulted sky, and his blood became the rivers and oceans.
Inspired by the style of Tyler Carter.
In the beginning, there was nothing, but the great void--called Ginnungagap--, the fiery realm of Muspelheim, and the icy realm of Niflheim. From the heat and frost, the first being, a cruel giant named Ymir, was formed. Three of Ymir's sons--Odin, Vili, and Ve--slew Ymir, and from his body, they formed Midgard, the realm of mankind. From his bones, they made the mountains, from his teeth the cliffs, from his brains the clouds, his hair became the trees. From his skull they created the vaulted sky, and his blood became the rivers and oceans.
Yggdrasil
Inspired by the style of Alphonse Mucha
"Yggdrasil"
Inspired by the style of Alphonse Mucha.
In Norse Cosmology, there are nine realms, and all are connected by a great cosmic tree, called Yggdrasil. In this piece, each of the nine realms is represented by a circle bearing a rune that coresponds to the name of the realm it represents.
Inspired by the style of Alphonse Mucha.
In Norse Cosmology, there are nine realms, and all are connected by a great cosmic tree, called Yggdrasil. In this piece, each of the nine realms is represented by a circle bearing a rune that coresponds to the name of the realm it represents.
Odin's Discovery of the Runes
Inspired by the style of Mike Mignola
Inspired by the style of Mike Mignola
"Odin's Discovery of the Runes"
Inspired by the style of Mike Mignola.
Inspired by the style of Mike Mignola.
Odin, the father of all the Norse Gods, was always hungry for more knowledge. He learned that the Norns--three mystical women who sat at the base of the world tree Yggdrasil (comprable to the Greek Fates)--knew the secrets of Runes, he asked them to share their wisdom, to which they refused. Odin was not yet worthy of this secret. Odin then pierced himself with his own spear and hung himself from a branch of the world tree. For nine days and nine nights, he stared down into the well of water that Yggdrasil grew from, and after the ninth night, the Runes deemed his sacrifice worthy and conciously revealed themselves to him.
In this illustration, the runes read the phrase "Given to Odin, Myself to Myself", a line from an old Norse poem that describes how Odin, as the supreme god, could offer no greater sacrifice than himself.
The Forging of Mjolnir
Inspired by the style of Arthur Rackham
Inspired by the style of Arthur Rackham
"The Forging of Mjolnir"
Inspired by the style of Arthur Rackham.
Loki, ever the trickster, decided one day to cut off the golden hair of Thor's wife, Sif, while she slept. The gods required Loki to then travel to the realm of Svartalfheim, the cavernous realm inhabited by the dwarves, to find a replacement. The dwarves made Sif a new head of hair, and two more treasures--a magical boat, and the deadliest of all spears. Loki then bet the dwarves his head that they could not make three more treasures of such wonder.
The dwarves got to work, and Loki, who had shapeshifted into a fly, bit one of them on the arm, to try to trip them up. It wasn't enough, and the dwarves made a magical golden boar that could run faster than any horse, and emmitted light in the dark. Loki then bit a dwarf on the neck, but they produced a magic golden ring that would spawn eight more golden rings every ninth night.
Determined, Loki then bit the dwarf's eyelid, and the blood dripped in his eye and obscured his vision. The dwarves then pulled Mjolnir, the hammer of Thor, out of their fire. The only flaw was that the handle was too short. Nevertheless, the Gods determined that Loki had lost his bet, and therefore his head. Loki then stated that he had told the dwarves they could have his head, but not his neck. Irritated, the dwarves contented themselves with sewing the trickster's mouth shut.
Inspired by the style of Arthur Rackham.
Loki, ever the trickster, decided one day to cut off the golden hair of Thor's wife, Sif, while she slept. The gods required Loki to then travel to the realm of Svartalfheim, the cavernous realm inhabited by the dwarves, to find a replacement. The dwarves made Sif a new head of hair, and two more treasures--a magical boat, and the deadliest of all spears. Loki then bet the dwarves his head that they could not make three more treasures of such wonder.
The dwarves got to work, and Loki, who had shapeshifted into a fly, bit one of them on the arm, to try to trip them up. It wasn't enough, and the dwarves made a magical golden boar that could run faster than any horse, and emmitted light in the dark. Loki then bit a dwarf on the neck, but they produced a magic golden ring that would spawn eight more golden rings every ninth night.
Determined, Loki then bit the dwarf's eyelid, and the blood dripped in his eye and obscured his vision. The dwarves then pulled Mjolnir, the hammer of Thor, out of their fire. The only flaw was that the handle was too short. Nevertheless, the Gods determined that Loki had lost his bet, and therefore his head. Loki then stated that he had told the dwarves they could have his head, but not his neck. Irritated, the dwarves contented themselves with sewing the trickster's mouth shut.
The Binding of Fenrir
Inspired by the style of James Gurney
Inspired by the style of James Gurney
"The Binding of Fenrir"
Inspired by the style of James Gurney.
Loki had three terrible children: Hel, the goddess of the underworld, Jormugandr, a serpent that was so large that it encircled the entire world, and a great wolf named Fenrir. Fearful of Fenrir, the Gods raised him in Asgard, where they could keep a close watch on him. Fenrir was ravenous, and grew at an alarming rate. The gods then decided that Fenrir would have to be imprisoned, lest he devour the whole world.
THey took Fenrir to a secluded place and made as if they were playing a game; they would tie Fenrir down and he, with his immense strength, would break free. Then the gods produced a suspiciously thin chain. Though the great wolf didn't know, the gods had asked the dwarves to make a magical, unbreakable chain.
Fenrir agreed to be bound, but only if one of the gods would place their hand in his mouth. Fenrir agreed that he would release the hand when he was free. The god Tyr, a warrior god, was the only one willing to comply, and when Fenrir found he could not escape, he bit off Tyr's hand. Tyr then became not just a god of war, but a god of Justice and Law--and Fenrir remained bound until Ragnarok.
Inspired by the style of James Gurney.
Loki had three terrible children: Hel, the goddess of the underworld, Jormugandr, a serpent that was so large that it encircled the entire world, and a great wolf named Fenrir. Fearful of Fenrir, the Gods raised him in Asgard, where they could keep a close watch on him. Fenrir was ravenous, and grew at an alarming rate. The gods then decided that Fenrir would have to be imprisoned, lest he devour the whole world.
THey took Fenrir to a secluded place and made as if they were playing a game; they would tie Fenrir down and he, with his immense strength, would break free. Then the gods produced a suspiciously thin chain. Though the great wolf didn't know, the gods had asked the dwarves to make a magical, unbreakable chain.
Fenrir agreed to be bound, but only if one of the gods would place their hand in his mouth. Fenrir agreed that he would release the hand when he was free. The god Tyr, a warrior god, was the only one willing to comply, and when Fenrir found he could not escape, he bit off Tyr's hand. Tyr then became not just a god of war, but a god of Justice and Law--and Fenrir remained bound until Ragnarok.
Thor Fishing for Jormugandr
Inspired by the style of Howard Pyle
Inspired by the style of Howard Pyle
"Thor Fishing for Jormugandr"
Inspired by the style of Howard Pyle.
Thor's nemesis was the World-Serpent, Jormagandr--a sea serpent so large that it encircled the entire world. When Thor went fishing with the giant Hymir, the giant warned him against sailing too far, since the venomous serpent lurked beneath the waves. Thor, however, wanted exactly that, and so he cast baited his line with an ox head and cast it into the sea. Soon, the sea began to boil as Jormugandr emerged from the waves, Thor's hook in his jaw. Thor reached for his hammer, but Hymir, fearful of both the serpent and the possiblity that their battle would start Ragnarok, cut the line, and Jormugandr sunk back beneath the waves.
This piece was inspired by the great American Illustrator Howard Pyle, who is probably best known for his pirate illustrations. This piece was inspired in particular by his painting "Attack on a Galleon."
Inspired by the style of Howard Pyle.
Thor's nemesis was the World-Serpent, Jormagandr--a sea serpent so large that it encircled the entire world. When Thor went fishing with the giant Hymir, the giant warned him against sailing too far, since the venomous serpent lurked beneath the waves. Thor, however, wanted exactly that, and so he cast baited his line with an ox head and cast it into the sea. Soon, the sea began to boil as Jormugandr emerged from the waves, Thor's hook in his jaw. Thor reached for his hammer, but Hymir, fearful of both the serpent and the possiblity that their battle would start Ragnarok, cut the line, and Jormugandr sunk back beneath the waves.
This piece was inspired by the great American Illustrator Howard Pyle, who is probably best known for his pirate illustrations. This piece was inspired in particular by his painting "Attack on a Galleon."
The Death of Baldur
Inspired by the style of Dan Mumford
Inspired by the style of Dan Mumford
"The Death of Baldur"
Inspired by the style of Dan Mumford.
Odin and Frigg's oldest son was Baldur; he was a god of the sun and of light, and he was widely loved by all. When Frigg began to have premonitions of Baldur's death, she went across the universe securing oaths from every thing that they would not harm her son, and all agreed. The gods in Asgard then began to entertain them selves by throwing weapons at Baldur and watching them bounce harmlessly off. Loki casually asked Frigg if everything had vowed not to harm Baldur, and she replied that the only thing she hadn't bothered with was mistletoe, which she had considered too small and innocent, anyway. Loki then left and crafted a spear of mistletoe, and then approached the blind god Hodr and explained that it was unfair that he should miss out on the fun of throwing weapons at Baldur, just because he was blind. Loki placed the spear in Hodr's hands and pointed him at Baldur, and Hodr unwittingly threw the spear and slew Baldur.
The gods then attempted to get Baldur back from the land of the dead. Hermod, another son of Odin, volunteered to make the quest. He rode Sleipnir, Odins 8-legged-horse, to Helheim to bargain with Hel, the goddess of the underworld, who is described as being half-maiden, half-corpse. Baldur was with Hel in the underworld, and she agreed that if he was so well-loved by all of creation, then all of creation would have to weep for him. Only then would she release him back to the land of the living.
The gods went throughout the cosmos, and indeed, everything wept for the death of Baldur. Everything save for one giantess named Hyrrokkin, who was actually Loki in disguise. She coldy said, "Let Hel have what is hers", and so Baldur remained in the underworld until Ragnarok.
Inspired by the style of Dan Mumford.
Odin and Frigg's oldest son was Baldur; he was a god of the sun and of light, and he was widely loved by all. When Frigg began to have premonitions of Baldur's death, she went across the universe securing oaths from every thing that they would not harm her son, and all agreed. The gods in Asgard then began to entertain them selves by throwing weapons at Baldur and watching them bounce harmlessly off. Loki casually asked Frigg if everything had vowed not to harm Baldur, and she replied that the only thing she hadn't bothered with was mistletoe, which she had considered too small and innocent, anyway. Loki then left and crafted a spear of mistletoe, and then approached the blind god Hodr and explained that it was unfair that he should miss out on the fun of throwing weapons at Baldur, just because he was blind. Loki placed the spear in Hodr's hands and pointed him at Baldur, and Hodr unwittingly threw the spear and slew Baldur.
The gods then attempted to get Baldur back from the land of the dead. Hermod, another son of Odin, volunteered to make the quest. He rode Sleipnir, Odins 8-legged-horse, to Helheim to bargain with Hel, the goddess of the underworld, who is described as being half-maiden, half-corpse. Baldur was with Hel in the underworld, and she agreed that if he was so well-loved by all of creation, then all of creation would have to weep for him. Only then would she release him back to the land of the living.
The gods went throughout the cosmos, and indeed, everything wept for the death of Baldur. Everything save for one giantess named Hyrrokkin, who was actually Loki in disguise. She coldy said, "Let Hel have what is hers", and so Baldur remained in the underworld until Ragnarok.
The Binding of Loki
Inspired by the style of Gerald Brom
Inspired by the style of Gerald Brom
"The Binding of Loki"
Inspired by the style of Gerald Brom.
For his roles in the death of the god Baldur, Loki was imprisoned by the other gods of Asgard. They took him to a cave and bound him, and placed a venomous serpent over his head, so that the poison would drip on his head and cause him great pain. Loki's wife stayed with him, though, and held a bowl over his head to catch the poison. Eventually, though, she would have to leave to empty out the bowl, and the poison would drip on Loki's head for a time, again, causing him to thrash in pain. The ancient Norse believed that it was these thrashings that were the cause of earthquakes.
Loki was destined to stay in this cave, imprisoned, until Ranarok, at which he would break free and lead the charge of giants, monsters, and demons that would destroy Asgard, and plunge the universe back into the chaos from which it spawned.
Inspired by the style of Gerald Brom.
For his roles in the death of the god Baldur, Loki was imprisoned by the other gods of Asgard. They took him to a cave and bound him, and placed a venomous serpent over his head, so that the poison would drip on his head and cause him great pain. Loki's wife stayed with him, though, and held a bowl over his head to catch the poison. Eventually, though, she would have to leave to empty out the bowl, and the poison would drip on Loki's head for a time, again, causing him to thrash in pain. The ancient Norse believed that it was these thrashings that were the cause of earthquakes.
Loki was destined to stay in this cave, imprisoned, until Ranarok, at which he would break free and lead the charge of giants, monsters, and demons that would destroy Asgard, and plunge the universe back into the chaos from which it spawned.
Ragnarok
Inspired by the Style of Drew Struzan
"Ragnarok"
Inspired by the style of Drew Struzan.
It was always foretold that the giants would rise up against the Gods of Asgard to destroy all they had built. The death of the sun god, Baldur, was the first sign of the Gods' impending doom. One fateful day, Heimdall, the watchman of the gods, spotted an incoming ship. It was led by the traitorous Loki, and it was bringing the Jotun--giants of ice and fire--to the shores of Asgard. The gods fought bravely; both Odin and Tyr were devoured by the wolf Fenrir, who in turn was slain by Vidar, one of Odin's sons. Heimdall fought Loki, and they both slew each other, as did the fire demon Surt and Freyr (the brother of Odin's wife, Freya). Thor weilded his hammer Mjolnir and finally fought his nemesis, the great serpent Jormugandr. Thor slew the World Serpent, but was only able to take nine steps before falling himself from the serpent's venom. By the end of the battle, the sun was extinguished, the World Tree Yggdrasil shuddered, and the nine realms were plunged into dark, formless chaos.
The interesting thing about the Norse was that their "Apocalypse", Ragnarok, was not final. After the dust settled, the earth rose agan from the ocean, more lush and fruitful than ever before. Baldur returned, freed from the underworld, and a pair of humans who had hid in the forest emerged to replenish the earth. Ragnarok was not an end, but a new beginning.
CAST:
Clint Eastwood as Odin
Charlize Theron as Freya
Alan Rickman as Loki
John Cena as Heimdall
Karl Urban as Thor
Me (again) as Tyr
Inspired by the style of Drew Struzan.
It was always foretold that the giants would rise up against the Gods of Asgard to destroy all they had built. The death of the sun god, Baldur, was the first sign of the Gods' impending doom. One fateful day, Heimdall, the watchman of the gods, spotted an incoming ship. It was led by the traitorous Loki, and it was bringing the Jotun--giants of ice and fire--to the shores of Asgard. The gods fought bravely; both Odin and Tyr were devoured by the wolf Fenrir, who in turn was slain by Vidar, one of Odin's sons. Heimdall fought Loki, and they both slew each other, as did the fire demon Surt and Freyr (the brother of Odin's wife, Freya). Thor weilded his hammer Mjolnir and finally fought his nemesis, the great serpent Jormugandr. Thor slew the World Serpent, but was only able to take nine steps before falling himself from the serpent's venom. By the end of the battle, the sun was extinguished, the World Tree Yggdrasil shuddered, and the nine realms were plunged into dark, formless chaos.
The interesting thing about the Norse was that their "Apocalypse", Ragnarok, was not final. After the dust settled, the earth rose agan from the ocean, more lush and fruitful than ever before. Baldur returned, freed from the underworld, and a pair of humans who had hid in the forest emerged to replenish the earth. Ragnarok was not an end, but a new beginning.
CAST:
Clint Eastwood as Odin
Charlize Theron as Freya
Alan Rickman as Loki
John Cena as Heimdall
Karl Urban as Thor
Me (again) as Tyr
